Parents of 15-month-old baby girl who lost her life to cot death warn older babies are at risk too

In the UK, fewer than 300 babies die from SIDS each year, with most deaths occurring when the baby is six months or younger

ANDREA DOWNEY

2 Mar 2017, 11:27

Updated: 2 Mar 2017, 11:34

THE heartbroken parents of a 15-month-old baby girl who died from cot death are urging all parents to be aware of the condition.

In the UK, fewer than 300 babies die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) each year, with most deaths occurring when the baby is six months or younger.

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15-month-old Sophia was a healthy baby when her parents put her to sleep, but the next morning she was deadCredit: ABMU

But Emad and Jo Ewada's daughter Sophia was almost one-and-a-half when she died.

Now, her parents want others to learn from their loss, and know SIDS can affect older babies too.

Sophia was “fit and healthy” when her mum and dad put her to bed.

But it was the last time they would ever say goodnight to her.

Jo, from Brackla, Bridgend, said: “I was an experienced parent.

"I put her to bed as normal but when I found her in the morning she had died – it was completely unexpected.

“Everyone thinks that the risk of cot death lessens as they get older – you get the impression that once your child passes six months it’s plain sailing – but people need to know the risks are there until a child is five.

“I don’t think the condition should be called sudden infant death syndrome.

“It would be more accurate to call it sudden death syndrome in children because it’s not just infants who are at risk.”

You think you know everything when you’ve had children before but after Sophia my confidence had completely gone.

Jo Ewada, Sophia's mum

Jo and Emad now want to raise awareness of cot death and SIDS and the advice offered by health visitors.

SIDS, often referred to as cot death, is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby.

The risk of cot death is rare and parents can reduce their baby’s risk by not smoking while pregnant or after the baby is born and placing the baby on their back when they sleep.

Jo said: “I feel so strongly about this.

"Important new research into cot death is going on but I still don’t have any answers.

“If by sharing our story it just helps save one child then it will have been worth it.”

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Jo and Emad and their children Yusef, Tamara and Alia underwent counselling after the loss of SophiaCredit: ABMU

Sophia was the youngest of Jo and Emad’s children and had an older brother called Yusef, now nine, and sisters Tamara, seven, and Alia, five.

Immediately after her death things got more complicated for the family when Emad lost his job and Jo had to give up college where she was studying health and social care.

Flying Start health visitor Sam Knight, who began supporting the family after the tragedy, said: “Jo and Emad’s lives changed in a second and their stable family life was no more.

“Not only did it have an unimaginable impact on their family and emotions but they were also hit financially.”

Flying Start helped the family get back on track and provided a family support worked to advise them.

WHAT IS SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year.

This statistic may sound alarming, but SIDS is rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is low.

Most deaths happen during the first six months of a baby’s life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk.

SIDS also tends to be slightly more common in baby boys.

What causes SIDS?

The exact cause is unknown.

Experts believe SIDS occurs at a particular stage in a baby’s development, and that it affects babies who are vulnerable to certain environmental stresses.

Environmental stresses could include tobacco smoke, getting tangled in bedding, a minor illness or a breathing obstruction.

There is also thought to be a link with co-sleeping - sleeping with your baby on a bed, sofa or chair.

Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature.

How can you reduce your baby's risk?

Always place your baby on their back to sleep

Place your baby in the "feet to foot" position, with their feet touching the end of the cot, Moses basket, or pram

Keep your baby’s head uncovered. Their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders.

Let your baby sleep in a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months.

Use a mattress that's firm, flat, waterproof and in good condition.

Breastfeed your baby

Don't smoke during pregnancy or let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby

Don't sleep on a bed, sofa or armchair with your baby

Don't let your baby get too hot or too cold

Jo and Emad have begun counselling and their other children have been going to play therapy to help them come to terms with their loss.

Dad Emad, originally from Egypt, said the family needed emotional support in the immediate aftermath of Sophia’s death.

He said: “The time between Sophia’s death and her funeral was difficult for me because I come from a different culture where burial takes place straightaway.

“That delay was killing me. But Sam is always here for me to talk to if I need to.”

But from the tragedy came hope when Jo discovered she was pregnant again just months later.

Emad added: “We were happy and shocked when we found out Jo was pregnant but it was a different feeling to the other pregnancies.”

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Shortly after Sophia's death, Jo found out she was pregnant with baby Aminah (pictured)Credit: ABMU

Jo added: “We had talked about having another child but it happened so quickly.

'EVERYTHING JUST FROZE'

Following Aminah’s safe arrival Sam arranged for her family to be part of the Care of the Next Infant (CONI) programme, a specialist service for bereaved parents devised by cot death charity The Lullaby Trust.

“There has been a whole support network for us all and I am now at the stage when I don’t necessarily blame myself for what happened,” added Jo.

“All I can think about is just getting to Aminah’s first birthday and we will go from there.”

Emad added: “Without the help we have had from Sam and everybody else we would be lost. We had a lot of problems but they came in and helped us.

“The whole team does a really, really good job for people who need help. The service does really important work – it’s been fantastic.”

Sam said: “As a health visitor you don’t stop with just the baby – you extend that support to whoever needs it in the family.

“Jo and Emad are such an inspiration to all of us in the health visiting team because they’ve allowed us into their lives at such a difficult time and we have learned so much from them.”

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